Letting your kids maul your pets and not doing anything...

This might be a strong opinion, but here goes. I know that toddlers might want to pull the cat's tail, lay on the cat with their whole body and squish them, hit the dog with toys, or ride on him like a horse. But if you see them doing that and you don't stop them and tell them/show them how to be gentle, then you are wrong. You had a baby, your pets did not have a choice and don't deserve to be abused because "it's cute". This is not funny:

Put the camera away, and help your cat! I've heard/seen stories of kids killing cats by squeezing them too hard. Yes, it's accidental, but it's not OK for you to let it get to that point because you don't keep your pet safe from your kid.

This might be a strong opinion, but here goes. I know that toddlers might want to pull the cat's tail, lay on the cat with their whole body and squish them, hit the dog with toys, or ride on him like a horse. But if you see them doing that and you don't stop them and tell them/show them how to be gentle, then you are wrong. You had a baby, your pets did not have a choice and don't deserve to be abused because "it's cute". This is not funny:

Put the camera away, and help your cat! I've heard/seen stories of kids killing cats by squeezing them too hard. Yes, it's accidental, but it's not OK for you to let it get to that point because you don't keep your pet safe from your kid.

"Look, there's no debating that the holy book of the majority should
dictate all the secular laws for everyone else. That's just common sense
until your side isn't winning. The Bible states in Genesis that
marriage is between a man and his mutated rib, which is as painful as it
sounds, but at least the Constitution allows it".

I have an old cat. When Raven was a toddler she would walk up, pick up the cat and commence to all kinds of torture. The cat would put up with it for 10 minutes, screech to be let go and then walk off and sit down two feet from the child.

I see no reason to rescue a cat that is to stupid to leave the room.

Veto.

I have an old cat. When Raven was a toddler she would walk up, pick up the cat and commence to all kinds of torture. The cat would put up with it for 10 minutes, screech to be let go and then walk off and sit down two feet from the child.

Those are also the kids that might later go on to get mauled to death by a dog or setting cats on fire because their parents never taught them to respect animals. Not saying this is always the case, but I too get very aggravated by parents that don't teach their kids to be careful and gentle with animals.

We are going through this right now with our 14 month old. She is obsessed with our dog. I'm trying to teach her how to give "gentle cuddles" but right now it is in one ear, out the other, so for now I just follow her around and don't leave her alone with the dog.

It would not be the dog's fault if she got tired of being poked and slapped - and at this point, it wouldn't be my daughter's either. It would be mine.

Those are also the kids that might later go on to get mauled to death by a dog or setting cats on fire because their parents never taught them to respect animals. Not saying this is always the case, but I too get very aggravated by parents that don't teach their kids to be careful and gentle with animals.

We are going through this right now with our 14 month old. She is obsessed with our dog. I'm trying to teach her how to give "gentle cuddles" but right now it is in one ear, out the other, so for now I just follow her around and don't leave her alone with the dog.

It would not be the dog's fault if she got tired of being poked and slapped - and at this point, it wouldn't be my daughter's either. It would be mine.

I'm not just worried for the cat though...luckily this didn't happen to you, but the cat could have gotten sick of her squishing him and scratched or bitten her badly. My younger cat is a moron [the same one that I made the verbal abuse of pets thread about], but I still save her stupid ass from the baby because I don't want either of them to get hurt.Â

I'm not just worried for the cat though...luckily this didn't happen to you, but the cat could have gotten sick of her squishing him and scratched or bitten her badly. My younger cat is a moron [the same one that I made the verbal abuse of pets thread about], but I still save her stupid ass from the baby because I don't want either of them to get hurt.Â

"Look, there's no debating that the holy book of the majority should
dictate all the secular laws for everyone else. That's just common sense
until your side isn't winning. The Bible states in Genesis that
marriage is between a man and his mutated rib, which is as painful as it
sounds, but at least the Constitution allows it".

"Look, there's no debating that the holy book of the majority should
dictate all the secular laws for everyone else. That's just common sense
until your side isn't winning. The Bible states in Genesis that
marriage is between a man and his mutated rib, which is as painful as it
sounds, but at least the Constitution allows it".

We don't let the children actively 'hurt' the cats. We try to teach Inara to pet nicely and we don't let her pull their fur. If the cat doesn't like the treatment they have the option of leaving. For example... a few weeks ago Inara and I were outside hanging the laundry. One of our cats walks up to her and Inara picks the cat up in such a way that her two back feet were up in the air and her head and front feet were dragging the ground. Inara took off walking with her. The cat did NOTHING. Stupid cat. I let her do it. Of course, two of our cats are declawed and the other one is so old that she has been tested and proven that she can take more damage than she will dole out.

We don't let the children actively 'hurt' the cats. We try to teach Inara to pet nicely and we don't let her pull their fur. If the cat doesn't like the treatment they have the option of leaving. For example... a few weeks ago Inara and I were outside hanging the laundry. One of our cats walks up to her and Inara picks the cat up in such a way that her two back feet were up in the air and her head and front feet were dragging the ground. Inara took off walking with her. The cat did NOTHING. Stupid cat. I let her do it. Of course, two of our cats are declawed and the other one is so old that she has been tested and proven that she can take more damage than she will dole out.

My DD mauls our cat. She pulls it's tail, yanks it's fur out and pets it by slapping it as hard as she can. We yell at her and tell her to be gentle and she pets her and says "niiiicccceee kiki" That darn cat loves her. She comes looking for more and when she has had enough she runs away. We do remind her to be gentle but there are still plenty of time when we catch her with handfuls of fur.

My DD mauls our cat. She pulls it's tail, yanks it's fur out and pets it by slapping it as hard as she can. We yell at her and tell her to be gentle and she pets her and says "niiiicccceee kiki" That darn cat loves her. She comes looking for more and when she has had enough she runs away. We do remind her to be gentle but there are still plenty of time when we catch her with handfuls of fur.

I think it depends on the age of the child, the animal, the form of "abuse", ect. My daughter loves our cat, and sometimes the cat doesn't mind being layed on, and when she does, she takes off. I do tell her to "pet nice" and take her hand and pet the cat in a more loving way than her slaps, but I don't correct her everytime. She has learned a few times that if the kitty doesn't like the tail being pulled that she can get clawed, which we know our cat doesn't claw violently, so we're not real worried about it.

I think it depends on the age of the child, the animal, the form of "abuse", ect. My daughter loves our cat, and sometimes the cat doesn't mind being layed on, and when she does, she takes off. I do tell her to "pet nice" and take her hand and pet the cat in a more loving way than her slaps, but I don't correct her everytime. She has learned a few times that if the kitty doesn't like the tail being pulled that she can get clawed, which we know our cat doesn't claw violently, so we're not real worried about it.

Our cat is part of our family. Zach is not allowed to torture her. He is allowed to pet her nicely and speak to her in soft tones. He is taught to respect her. She is also not allowed to be mean to Zach and would be shut away into a room if she even so much as looked as if she would snap at him.

Humane treatment of animals needs to start at first contact.

Our cat is part of our family. Zach is not allowed to torture her. He is allowed to pet her nicely and speak to her in soft tones. He is taught to respect her. She is also not allowed to be mean to Zach and would be shut away into a room if she even so much as looked as if she would snap at him.

We have a very large old (he will 10 in 4 months) black lab that would not even hurt a fly. Seriously. Truth be told he is even afraid of cats. BUT none the less I would NEVER allow Joel to maul him, in any manner whether is was done in good or bad. He is a pet and cannot talk, and what a human might think is cute is far from it for the animal.

Joel knows to not be mean to Trooper and the same goes for Trooper towards Joel.

We have a very large old (he will 10 in 4 months) black lab that would not even hurt a fly. Seriously. Truth be told he is even afraid of cats. BUT none the less I would NEVER allow Joel to maul him, in any manner whether is was done in good or bad. He is a pet and cannot talk, and what a human might think is cute is far from it for the animal.

Joel knows to not be mean to Trooper and the same goes for Trooper towards Joel.

I agree! I have 2 cats, and an almost 1 year old. She understands the concept of "be gentle" or "be nice please". I mean yeah, her petting is still a little rough but she has the jist of it. I will never understand the people who let their kids beat on the animals, and then freak out on the animal when they get sick of it and retaliate.

I agree! I have 2 cats, and an almost 1 year old. She understands the concept of "be gentle" or "be nice please". I mean yeah, her petting is still a little rough but she has the jist of it. I will never understand the people who let their kids beat on the animals, and then freak out on the animal when they get sick of it and retaliate.

"I see no reason to rescue a cat that is too stupid to leave the room."

This had me laughing my a$$ off!

My dogs run and hide from my 14 year old. Even they know they're asking for trouble if the don't move their butts. I don't know what the heck he does to them when I'm not looking but at least they have self preservation instincts.

"I see no reason to rescue a cat that is too stupid to leave the room."

This had me laughing my a$$ off!

My dogs run and hide from my 14 year old. Even they know they're asking for trouble if the don't move their butts. I don't know what the heck he does to them when I'm not looking but at least they have self preservation instincts.

My sympathy for the cats went out the window after YEARS of watching Raven roughhouse the cat and the stupid cat would just lay there. I remember one time I was on my way to bed and I heard a jingling in the living room and I went to investigate. All that was there was my cat. I went back to my room and heard the jingling again and I went back to the living room....still just the cat. I took a closer look. That stupid cat was wearing a beaded necklace. Seriously, she would have had to sit there and allow the necklace to be put on. She has no room to complain.

My sympathy for the cats went out the window after YEARS of watching Raven roughhouse the cat and the stupid cat would just lay there. I remember one time I was on my way to bed and I heard a jingling in the living room and I went to investigate. All that was there was my cat. I went back to my room and heard the jingling again and I went back to the living room....still just the cat. I took a closer look. That stupid cat was wearing a beaded necklace. Seriously, she would have had to sit there and allow the necklace to be put on. She has no room to complain.

We have 3 cats. Two are old and have never wanted to be near DS at any age. One is younger and loves attention any way he can get it. Sometimes DS is a bit rough but usually he is pretty good and at times we will step in if we think things are getting too rough even if the cat doesn't want to leave. I have a picture when DS was younger and fell asleep on the cat and that cat purred the whole time so while we do watch our son there are different levels of "maul" and if my senile old cat can run from my son, i know our huge younger one can get away if needed. Cats are good at making sure a toddler can't reach them if they want it.

We have 3 cats. Two are old and have never wanted to be near DS at any age. One is younger and loves attention any way he can get it. Sometimes DS is a bit rough but usually he is pretty good and at times we will step in if we think things are getting too rough even if the cat doesn't want to leave. I have a picture when DS was younger and fell asleep on the cat and that cat purred the whole time so while we do watch our son there are different levels of "maul" and if my senile old cat can run from my son, i know our huge younger one can get away if needed. Cats are good at making sure a toddler can't reach them if they want it.

I totally agree with teaching kids to be nice to animals. I have an almost 4 yr old and a 6 mo old American Bulldog. (the younger boys dog from homeward bound in case u were wondering) I had a responsibility to the puppy we CHOSE to get to keep him safe from my son. And now that the puppy has now passed up my son in weight and getting taller each day it is my responsibility to keep my son safe. (even tho he is more a danger to the pup then the pup is to him very very good dog!)

An animal can turn on a kid/baby/adult at ANY time. Even the most well behaved dogs can turn. the pp who said it would be MY fault if either one was hurt was exactly right.

I highly doubt if your child gets a lovely scratch that needs stiches (my adult friend was laying on the bed playing nicley with her cat when her can walked over her face got jumpy and pushed off her eye! 12 stitches later her eyelid was intact) that u will say stupid cat...or if the dog bites a child it will be stupid dog...It will be horrible!

Kids need to be taught to respect animals and know that no matter what kind that they are animals...they can hurt.

on a side note::I absolutly despise when kids come up to me when im walking my dog and want to touch and pet him. He is being triained and yes ALL dogs bite. I do not want to have to put my dog down bc he bites a stranger. ALSO when kids walking by stick their hands in my fence!!! OH MY GOSH!!! Why do i have a fence?? to keep u out and him in.. sorry i went on a tangent that is my biggest pet peeve. I do not want to lose my dog bc someone cannot teach their children the concept of private property.

I totally agree with teaching kids to be nice to animals. I have an almost 4 yr old and a 6 mo old American Bulldog. (the younger boys dog from homeward bound in case u were wondering) I had a responsibility to the puppy we CHOSE to get to keep him safe from my son. And now that the puppy has now passed up my son in weight and getting taller each day it is my responsibility to keep my son safe. (even tho he is more a danger to the pup then the pup is to him very very good dog!)

An animal can turn on a kid/baby/adult at ANY time. Even the most well behaved dogs can turn. the pp who said it would be MY fault if either one was hurt was exactly right.

I highly doubt if your child gets a lovely scratch that needs stiches (my adult friend was laying on the bed playing nicley with her cat when her can walked over her face got jumpy and pushed off her eye! 12 stitches later her eyelid was intact) that u will say stupid cat...or if the dog bites a child it will be stupid dog...It will be horrible!

Kids need to be taught to respect animals and know that no matter what kind that they are animals...they can hurt.

on a side note::I absolutly despise when kids come up to me when im walking my dog and want to touch and pet him. He is being triained and yes ALL dogs bite. I do not want to have to put my dog down bc he bites a stranger. ALSO when kids walking by stick their hands in my fence!!! OH MY GOSH!!! Why do i have a fence?? to keep u out and him in.. sorry i went on a tangent that is my biggest pet peeve. I do not want to lose my dog bc someone cannot teach their children the concept of private property.

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